Rosalind "Roz" Brewer, C'84
Rosalind "Roz" Brewer is a renowned corporate executive celebrated for her visionary leadership, transformative impact, and unwavering dedication to advancing positive change in global business. As one of the few Black women to reach the C-suite in a Fortune 100 company, her groundbreaking career has cemented her status as one of today's most influential figures. Recognized among Fortune's “Most Powerful Women in Business” for her strategic acumen and commitment to excellence and equity, Brewer drives powerful results across corporate, educational, and cultural initiatives.
In a homecoming that bridges corporate leadership with academic stewardship, Brewer recently returned to her alma mater as Interim President of Spelman College. Drawing on her proven executive experience, she now leads this prestigious historically Black women's college through a pivotal transition while advancing her broader professional endeavors. Her vision for Spelman combines institutional stability with strategic advancement, as she builds on the college's legacy of excellence to prepare students for an evolving global landscape.
With a career marked by impactful leadership, Brewer has driven innovation and digital transformation across healthcare, retail, and hospitality. As President and CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, she redefined the company's strategic direction, guiding it through the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic and expanding access to essential healthcare services. During her tenure as COO of Starbucks, she led operational excellence initiatives and spearheaded technological innovations that elevated customer engagement globally. At Sam's Club, she served as President and CEO, implementing digital solutions that transformed the customer experience and strengthened the brand's market position. Brewer's earlier work at Kimberly-Clark further underscores her versatility, where she strengthened market presence and drove breakthroughs in nonwoven materials.
Beyond the corporate sector, Brewer's influence extends through her board positions with United Airlines, the KIPP Foundation for Public Chartered Schools, and the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Her past corporate board experience includes Amazon, Starbucks, Lockheed Martin, and Molson Coors. As a limited partner in her hometown team, the Atlanta Falcons, Brewer is one of only three Black women with an ownership stake in an NFL team, reflecting her far-reaching influence across corporate and community arenas.
True to her roots as a chemistry graduate of Spelman College, Brewer's role as Interim President and Chair Emerita underscores her enduring commitment to educational advancement, equity, and future leadership development. She remains actively involved in philanthropic initiatives supporting academic opportunity, healthcare, and economic empowerment.